“That’s fine, young Bud. No-one would have begrudged Thorn anything for what he did in return. And most of what he did ended up benefiting us because we couldn’t do it for ourselves. Now we need people like you to step up and do some of these things for us. What are you planning?”
“I’ve been able to take possession of some alien ships, which need extensive modifications to be useful. I’m going to need to expand shipbuilding operations. So for the immediate future, the existing shipyard will need to be expanded somewhat to get what is needed happening. But in the medium term I’m looking at either buying a section of space based shipyard, or building it on the ground and putting it in orbit myself. After that it will self-build large enough bays to start building ships for the Imperium, which we’ll sell to them.”
“Excellent, my boy,” said the mayor, rubbing his hands together. “What do you need from us?”
“A fig leaf, as Jill’s people call it, over the activities of the shipyard in the past, and now, to make them legal, and approval to build a shipyard in orbit, or elsewhere in the system if preferred. I’ll also need to know what tax rate will be expected to be paid when it starts making a profit.”
Neither of them reacted, and just looked at me.
“The system needs to start developing ways of supporting itself, or we will just become the Imperium’s unwanted poor people who don’t care. Thorn did everything. Thorn was everything. Well maybe not all. But in terms of most of the members of the Imperium, we are a backwards people not really contributing anything to the Imperium whole.”
“Except you,” said my father.
“And that’s just how it was with Thorn, and it’s not good for the planet. We need to step up. Our mages need to step up. Our people need to contribute to the war effort somehow. I can afford to finance building a shipyard to rival Haven’s. Thorn left that to me, and while he didn’t understand what he was leaving me, I feel an obligation to use some of it for the good of the planet.”
“And it sounds like you are,” said the mayor.
“It’s just plans at the moment. But I have Hubaisha working on them. I need sanction and support to do this at a political level. We also need to get people involved. Find out if anyone wishes to be trained in the running of a shipyard. I can’t do it myself, and while an AI will run it, Haven shipyard employs a lot of people. I can import employees when we need them, but I’d rather our people took an interest, and their earnings benefit our society instead of another one.”
Both of them sat there when I fell silent. Serena was hearing this for the first time, and she was smiling.
“I don’t see any problems, young Bud. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but the people voted to not form any government for the time being, and appointed your father as ambassador to the Imperium. I continue on as Mayor, for now. We formed a loose council for advising me on issues, and I doubt any of them will have a problem with anything you’ve said. I can and will draw up documents to give you, what was it called? Your fig leaf?”
I nodded, but Serena was now grinning.
“Proceed with your plans, and I’ll have your authorizations to proceed in the next day or so. When we have something in our sky to point to, I’ll announce your new venture to the people, and we’ll see if some of the young ones want to learn what is needed to run it. As for tax, your father will discuss tax with the Imperium, and find out what our obligations will be, since so far, we’ve not been asked for any contributions, or been in much of a position to pay one. But like you said, when we start selling ships, and I assume that will include civilian ships, things will change, and we’ll need to know the effects.”
Father nodded.
“You probably haven’t been asked so far,” said Serena, “because of Thorn’s contributions to forming the Imperium.”
“True, young Serena. And this will by necessity change at some point, so we should move on it before it does.”
At that point the sound of happy people invading the beach stopped us, and a butler droid brought us food.
Thirty Five
It was a bit strange wearing clothes on the beach.
Most of our extended families arrived over the course of the afternoon, and I’d settled myself into a chair on the sand wearing shorts. Serena had changed into what Jill apparently called a bikini, which covered up the basics, but not a whole lot more. The belt we both wore didn’t really fit, but neither of us were taking them off.
We caught up with everyone in small groups, and our mothers had indeed been happy to hear we were an actual couple now. Serena’s sister turned up with a boyfriend, but I took an instant dislike to him. Not that it mattered, as they stayed well away from us.
Late in the afternoon, before a barbeque dinner was due to start, Hubaisha turned up with Bob Derr, and the three of us retired to my office in the house. Not that I’d set it up. Hubaisha had done that after my first visit, in case I needed it at some point. I may as well have been in my ready room.
“What can I do for you?” I asked Bob.
“It’s more what I can do for you, my boy.”
“And that is?”
“I’ve talked to the Imperator, and we sorted out some long standing shipyard issues. What most people don’t know is, the core of the Haven shipyard actually belongs to me, but was essentially usurped by the Darkness War, and has since continued to be built upon as he ‘acquired’ new shipyards from pirates. We agreed it was time for us to separate out my original shipyard, and as rental for it, it includes some of the other shipyard modules which were merged in as the Darkness War moved up the spine, and they were forced to be moved. I’ll be able to start building civilian ships again.”
He paused, but I said nothing.
“At the same time, we’ve also agreed to pull out enough modules to form another basic shipyard, including one of the bays we used for upgrading the Explorer ships. All the fabricators needed to build Imperium ships are included, as are a starter set of the droids who do most of the work. You’ll find the explorer bay should take the Rawtenuga ship Jane wants modified for moving people around out on the spine, and one of the other bays will handle cruiser sized ships with ease. The other main bay is designed to build station modules, which you’ll need to expand the shipyard quickly.”
My mouth fell open.
“Sorry, what? I’ll find?”
“Yes. The Imperium is giving you a shipyard.”
“Why?”
“Apparently you did a great service recently which they’ve been unable to thank you for sufficiently. I’m not privy to what you did, but that’s what I was told to say when you asked.”
“For me? Or the system?”
“You, my boy. I understand you’re going into the shipyard business, and one day we’ll be rivals.”
He was grinning, and I wasn’t at all sure he was serious.
“That’s unexpected.”
“They said that too. You won’t have seen that coming, especially as you offered to buy an explorer bay. The separation should be complete tomorrow sometime. All we need is a place to deliver it to.”
“There’s a ground based shipyard on an uninhabitable continent. You can’t miss it as it has a lot of ship hulks on the ground. Fixed orbit over that will do nicely.”